TSG head home empty-handed after 3-1 loss in Frankfurt

Line-up and formation:

Markus Gisdol made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund on matchday 31. After missing last weekend’s game, Sebastian Rudy returned and slotted in at right back in place of Jeremy Toljan. TSG started the game with a back four but that changed to a back three in the second half as they pushed forward to try and claw their way back into the game.

Match highlights:

1st minute: Good interplay between Kevin Volland and Anthony Modeste. The latter cuts inside and tries his luck from the edge of the area, but his shot is tame and straight at Kevin Trapp in the Frankfurt goal.

13th minute: First real chance for the hosts. Slick build-up play down the right between Stefan Aigner and Haris Seferovic sees the Swiss forward get himself into a fantastic position in the box but he rifles into the side netting.

17th minute: Goal for Eintracht Frankfurt. Bastian Oczipka curls a free kick around the wall and finds the bottom left corner of the net.  

22nd minute: Almost the equaliser! Volland spots the run of Adam Szalai and threads the ball through to him in the box. Trapp is out quick to block his effort, the ball deflects up and Firmino gets his head on it but can’t hit the target.

27th minute: The hosts double their advantage. Seferovic gets in behind the TSG defence and keeps his composure to beat Oliver Baumann, expertly finishing with the outside of his boot. 

34th minute: Unbelievable. 3-0 to Frankfurt. Seferovic whips the ball in from the right and Timothy Chandler gets in front of his marker to send a glancing header past Hoffenheim’s number 1. 

47th minute: Good play by Volland down the right. He drives in a powerful, low cross looking for substitute Tarik Elyounoussi at the near post, but the Frankfurt defence manage to snuff out the danger. Positive start to the second 45 by TSG!

51st minute: GOOOAAALLL for Hoffenheim! What an absolute screamer of a free kick from Kevin Volland! His perfectly placed left-footed strike from 25, maybe 30 yards sails past a helpless Trapp. Is the comeback on?

64th minute: Hoffenheim are piling the pressure on the hosts at the minute as they look to turn this game on its head. Substitute Steven Zuber stings the palms of Trapp with a venomous drive from just outside the area.

85th minute: Substitute Takashi Inui uses his pace to get in behind the TSG defence, who are currently pressing high up the pitch in search of more goals, but the Japan international’s attempt is wild and wide.

90th minute: Oliver Baumann and the woodwork to the rescue! Seferovic and Johannes Flum counter for Frankfurt before the Switzerland international tries to add to his tally. Baumann gets a hand to the ball, it ricochets off the post and fortunately the TSG defence manage to clear it to safety.

Moment of the match: 

The coaching staff weren’t pleased with TSG’s first-half performance and made a triple substitution at the break, with Polanski, Bicakcic and Modeste making way. Markus Gisdol sent Tobias Strobl, Tarik Elyounoussi and Steven Zuber on in the hope of adding fresh impetus to the Hoffenheim side. There was also a change in formation as TSG played with a back three, as opposed to the back four adopted in the first half, and that strengthened their attack.

Number of the match: 51

That was the minute when Kevin Volland’s left-footed free kick flew past Kevin Trapp and into the back of the Frankfurt net. It offered a glimmer of hope for the players and fans alike that a comeback was possible. TSG dictated the game after the goal, were braver in attack and did all they could to try and avoid the impending defeat. However, they failed to carve out enough clear-cut chances.

Match facts and statistics »